Donna Rolls and Keith Hedges moved to town fromSydney four weeks ago to be closer to family, due to health issues.

Ms Rolls said they have applied for many rental homes but have been constantly overlooked due to her being on a disability pension and Mr Hedges receiving a carer’s pension.

The family is currently living with Ms Rolls’s sister Kelly while they look for a place to live, and so decided to hire a storage shed in Cessnock Street to keep all of their belongings.

But to their horror on Monday morning, they discovered the shed containing everything they owned had been broken into, ransacked and robbed.

Electronic items, clothing, documents and furniture have been stolen, but the most important item to them, which has no monetary value, is what they are most devastated to be missing.

The couple’s daughter Mara passed away at just five days old, and they had a pink and silver 3D frame made up containing a photo of her, her knitted guardian angel and booties, all of which has been taken.

“When we lost our daughter most of my heart was gone and now the rest of it is gone,” Ms Rolls said.

“We’re just left with this big mess.

“This is disgusting.”

Ms Rolls said the stress has affected her health issues, and with the added pressure of trying to find a property and Mr Hedges trying to launch a business, they haven’t had the best start in Cessnock.

“We seem to be getting one foot in and 10 steps back,” she said.

And while they were fortunate to have insurance on the shed, they are calling on the perpetrators to return the irreplaceable items such as their daughter’s frame.

“I don’t care about what they’ve done, just return it,” she said.

“I don’t care if it’s broken I just want what’s in it back.”

Central Hunter Police crime manager Detective Inspector Mitch Dubojski said police had recently received reports of storage sheds being broken into in two different locations.

He said police are investigating, and hope the community can assist with any information by calling Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.